Working with the government has always meant slim margins, delayed payment, and possible jail time if you make a mistake during the complex sales process. But it also meant a long term, stable revenue stream with a trustworthy client and that predictability encouraged many small businesses to focus on government, which in turn enabled them to grow develop innovative products for both the public and private sector.

However a government shutdown breaks that trust and predictable revenue stream, leading to lay-offs, delayed research and development, or even bankruptcy.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) seeks nominations from four veteran service or military organizations to serve on the Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development Task Force.

“Many small businesses often overlook, readily discard, or become immediately intimidated by federal contracting, but the federal government is one of our nation’s largest purchaser of goods and services.” Learn more from Melinda Emerson at Succeed as Your Own Boss.

Three in four owners said they should have consulted an expert early on. The areas of consultation small-business owners particularly needed help with were tax and legal support, as well as marketing and promotion. Nearly one in five respondents said they lacked the tax and legal expertise they needed to effectively run their businesses. About 37% of respondents said although they were planning a marketing strategy, they wished they had consulted a marketing expert.